In the first joint application round of spring 2026, approximately 4,700 applications were submitted to the University of Turku’s international Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes.
Applicant numbers declined significantly compared to the previous year, which was expected following the introduction of the national application fee at the beginning of 2025 and the full cost recovery requirement of tuition fees from applicants from outside the EU and EEA.
The University of Turku participated in the first joint application round of the spring from 7 to 21 January 2026 with a total of 18 English-taught degree programmes, including two Bachelor’s and 16 Master’s programmes. Applicants could apply to a maximum of three programmes offered by the University of Turku.
Applicant numbers decreased as expected
The decline in applicant numbers compared to the corresponding spring 2025 application round was significant but in line with advance estimates. The national application fee of 100 euros and the full cost tuition fees, which will come into effect in August 2026, have significantly changed the international admissions landscape and have particularly impacted the number of applicants from outside the EU and EEA.
As a result of the full cost recovery requirement, the University of Turku has discontinued scholarships for the first year of studies, which had previously enabled many students to begin their studies in Turku.
The final number of applications will be confirmed as application processing continues and the status of application fee obligations and payments is fully confirmed. Some applicants are exempt from the application fee, and others may complete the payment after the application deadline.
New and established programmes attracted interest
In 2026, the English-taught Bachelor’s programmes that were open for applications for the second time ranked among the most popular programmes in terms of application numbers. The Sustainable and Social Entrepreneurship programme received 455 applications, while the Information and Communication Technology programme received 266 applications (the corresponding figures in 2025 were 495 and 497, respectively). The admission quotas for the Bachelor’s programmes are 50 new students in total.
Among the Master’s programmes, the most popular were Information and Communication Technology with 873 applications (1,306 in 2025) and Global Innovation Management with 503 applications (847 in 2025). The admission quotas for all the Master’s programmes are 322 new students in total.
Applicants represent more than one hundred nationalities
Applicants represented a total of 101 nationalities. The majority of applicants came from Finland and Asian countries. The highest number of applications were received from Finland (756), Pakistan (637), India (417), Nigeria (375), and Bangladesh (355). The figures will be further specified as the application review process continues.
The distribution of applicants by country was influenced by factors including the application fee and the full cost recovery requirement for tuition fees.
In its International Programme 2021–2030, the University of Turku has set the goal of developing international student recruitment in a controlled manner and promoting diversity within the student community, and to double the number of international degree students from 2020 by 2030.
Applicants will be informed of the admission results during spring 2026, and new students will begin their studies in autumn 2026.
More information:
Admission Services, admissions@utu.fi
